Cartridge-type quick connector

ABSTRACT

A quick connector for establishing a connection between a flexible tube and an interior chamber of a vessel. The vessel has a wall structure through which a mounting bore extends. A canister assembly associated with the quick connector includes a housing is adapted for installation in the mounting bore, a retainer coupled to the housing that adapted to accept and retain a port connector of the hose therein, and a spring clip for coupling the housing to the wall structure. Flanged ends of the spring clip are retained in, and project outwardly from, corresponding apertures formed through a leading end of the housing. Upon installation of the housing into the mounting bore, the end flanges are deflected inwardly until the leading end of the housing extends beyond the mounting bore. Then the flanged ends return to their expanded condition, thereby coupling the canister assembly to the vessel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to quick connectors and, moreparticularly, to a canister-type quick connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A type of coupling, commonly referred to as a “quick connector”, is usedin a wide variety of liquid and gas systems to provide a connectionbetween a pair of components for establishing a continuous flow paththerebetween. For example, in automotive applications, quick connectorsare used in various air/vapor management systems such as evaporativeemissions systems, crankcase ventilation systems, and brake boost andengine vacuum systems. In addition to these gas management systems,quick connectors can also be used in fluid delivery systems such as, forexample, liquid fuel and windshield washer applications. The benefits ofquick connectors in automotive applications include their ease ofassembly and subsequent replacement, a reduction in the number of leakpaths, a reduction in the number of system components, and thecontainment of hydrocarbon emissions.

In many motor vehicle applications, the female connector of a hoseassembly is coupled to a male connector port which extends from a wallsegment of a vessel-like component (i.e., fuel tank, intake manifold,crankcase, etc.) that delineates an interior chamber from the ambientenvironment. Unfortunately, the need to form or otherwise secure a maleport connector on such structures complicates the fabrication processand tends to increase the packaging space requirements. For example,FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional quick connector arrangement having ahose 10 coupled to a standard male connector port 12 utilizing a quickconnector 14 that is generally similar to that described incommonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,531. Male connector port 12 is shownextending from a vessel 16 to define a continuous internal flowpaththerebetween. Connector 14 includes a housing 18 having a maleattachment segment 20 that is shown inserted into the end of hose 10 toprovide a sealed connection therebetween. Connector 14 further includesa retainer 22 secured within housing 18 and having a snap-lock mechanism24 for retaining a rim 26 of male connector port 12 therein.

As an alternative, U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,537 teaches of forming an annularboss on the tank which acts as a raised female receptacle that isadapted to receive the male port segment of either a tube orcollect-type connector. The male port segment is retained in the femalereceptacle via the serrated edges of a spring-loaded grab ring. A cap isrequired to enclose the raised boss to provide additional rigidity andstrength.

Despite the increasing opportunity to use quick connectors in motorvehicle gas management and liquid delivery systems, a need still existsto provide a superior mounting arrangement between one of the male andfemale connector components, typically the male port connector, and itsadjoining wall structure. Ideally, this would be accomplished byproviding a standardized mounting arrangement that reduces fabricationcomplexity and permits modular connection of a wide variety ofconnectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theabove-noted shortcomings in the quick connector art by providing acanister-type quick connector which can be secured to a wall structurein a flush mount arrangement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a connectionbetween a wall structure and a canister assembly and which is adapted toaccept and retain male port connectors that are connected to a hoseassembly or the like.

As a further object of the present invention, the canister assemblyincludes a housing that is mounted in a stepped bore formed through thewall structure, and a retainer mounted to the housing which has a femalereceptacle adapted to accept and retain a male connector therein. As arelated object, it is contemplated that the canister assembly caninclude a set of retainers that are each adapted for retention in thehousing and which define different sized female receptacles forretention of similarly sized male connectors.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, aquick connector is provided for establishing a continuous flow pathbetween a hose of a flexible-tubing system and an interior chamber of avessel. The vessel has a wall structure through which a mounting boreextends. A canister assembly associated with the quick connectorincludes a cylindrical housing adapted for retention in the mountingbore, and a retainer coupled to the housing that defines a femalereceptacle which is adapted to accept and retain the male port connectorof the hose therein. To provide a modular feature, a set of differentretainers can be mounted in the housing. Each retainer has a differentsized female receptacle that is adapted to receive a similarly-sizedmale port connector. As such, a common housing/mounting bore interfacecan be utilized for securing the housing to the wall structure.

In accordance with another unique feature of the present invention,opposing flanged ends of a spring clip are retained in, and projectoutwardly from, corresponding apertures formed through a leading end ofthe housing. Upon installation of the leading end of the housing intothe mounting bore, the end flanges are resiliently deflected inwardly inresponse to engagement with the inner wall surface of the mounting bore.Once the leading end of the housing extends beyond the mounting bore,the flanged ends return to their fully expanded condition so as tooverlay and engage a portion of the wall structure adjacent the mountingbore within the interior chamber, thereby coupling the housing to thevessel.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter whenconsidered in combination with the appended drawings. It should beunderstood that the detailed description, while indicating a preferredembodiment of the invention, is only intended to be used for purposes ofillustration and that various changes and modifications within theequivalent scope of this invention will become apparent of those skilledin the quick connector art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the conventional use of a quick connector between ahose and a male port connector of a vessel;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a quick connector having acanister assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the quick connector with thecanister assembly mounted in a wall structure;

FIG. 4 is an internal perspective view of the quick connector with thecanister assembly mounted in the wall structure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the quick connector installed in a steppedmounting bore formed through the wall structure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the canister assembly associated withthe quick connector of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the housing associated with the canisterassembly;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the housing taken along line A—A of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the retainer associated with the canisterassembly;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the spring clip associated with the canisterassembly;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the spring clip shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the spring clip taken along line B—B ofFIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates generally to an arrangement for mountingthe female receptacle of a quick disconnector to the wall of astructural component. Upon fixation of the female receptacle to thestructural component, a male connector of the quick disconnector can bereleaseably secured to the female receptacle to establish a sealed flowpath connection between an interior space within the structuralcomponent and a hose or conduit secured to the male connector component.It is contemplated that this quick connector and variants thereof can beused to permit flow of liquids and gases through the sealed flow path invirtually any suitable application.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 12 of the drawings, a couplingapparatus, hereinafter referred to as quick connector 50, is shown toinclude a canister assembly 52 and a tubular male connector 54. Canisterassembly 52 is, as best shown in FIG. 5, adapted for retention in astepped mounting bore 56 which extends through a wall segment 58 of astructural component 60. In particular, mounting bore 56 extends betweenan interior wall surface 62 and an external wall surface 64 of wallsegment 58 such that canister assembly 52 establishes a flow path withan internal chamber 66 associated with structural component 60. Whilenot specifically shown, male connector 54 has a first end 68 adapted forconnection to a flow device such as, for example, a hose, a tube, or thecollect of an adjacent quick connector. A second end of male connector54 defines an end form 70 that is adapted for insertion into canisterassembly 52 such that its central flow aperture 72 is in flowcommunication with internal chamber 66 of structural component 60.Preferably, the size and shape of tubular end form 70 is configured tobe in compliance with commercially accepted standards. For example, theSociety of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has a set of specifications andrecommended practices including SAE J2044 which governs quick connectorsused in supply, return and vapor/emission lines for flexible-tubingsystems. While not limited thereto, structural component 60 iscontemplated to be an enclosed vessel such as, for example, a liquid orgaseous fuel tank, an engine manifold, a washer solution tank, or thelike.

Canister assembly 52 includes a housing 74, a retainer 76, and a springclip 78. Housing 74 is tubular so as to define a central passage 80 andincludes a first cylindrical body segment 82, a second cylindrical bodysegment 84, and a third cylindrical body segment 86. Outer wall surface88 of first body segment 82 is adapted to be in close proximity to aninner wall surface 90 associated with the lower, smaller diameterportion of stepped mounting bore 56 when canister assembly 52 is mountedtherein. In addition, the terminal end portion of first body segment 82is adapted to extend past interior wall surface 62 of wall segment 58when canister assembly 52 is installed in stepped bore 56. A seal ring92 is retained in a groove 94 formed in first body segment 82 to providea fluid (i.e., liquid and gas) tight seal between housing 74 andstructural component 60.

Second body segment 84 has a larger diameter than first body segment 82so as to define a radial wall surface 96 that engages a shoulder surface98 of stepped mounting bore 56 when canister assembly 52 is installedtherein. A plurality of axial lugs 100 extend outwardly from second bodysegment 84 of housing 74 and have a circumferential end surface 102 thatis adapted to be located in close proximity to an inner wall surface 104of the upper, larger diameter portion of stepped bore 56 when canisterassembly 52 is mounted therein. In addition, a locator lug 106 extendsoutwardly from second body segment 84 and is adapted for retention in ananti-rotation slot 108 formed in wall segment 58 and which communicateswith the upper portion of stepped bore 56. Installation of locator lug106 in slot 108 prevents housing 74 of canister assembly 52 fromrotating relative to wall segment 58.

Housing 74 also includes a pair of opposed apertures 110 formed throughsecond body segment 84, with one aperture 110 shown in FIG. 6 to bealigned immediately above locator lug 106. Third body segment 86 ofhousing 74 is shown to have a larger diameter than second body segment84 such that its outer circumferential wall surface 112 is adapted to belocated in close proximity to inner wall surface 104 of stepped bore 62when canister assembly 52 is installed therein.

Housing 74 is also shown to include a first arcuate wall segment 114 anda second arcuate wall segment 116, each extending axially from a topradial surface 118 of third body segment 86. Second wall segment 116 hasa locking slot 120 and a locking tab 122 formed at its terminal end. Asbest seen from FIG. 5, top surface 118 of third body segment 86 isadapted to be generally co-planar with exterior surface 64 of structuralcomponent 60 when canister assembly 52 is installed in stepped bore 56to provide a flush mounting arrangement. This flush mounting results ina terminal end 124 of first body segment 82 projecting into chamber 66such that a pair of cut-out apertures 126 extend into internal chamber66. Cut-outs 126 are generally T-shaped and are oppositely aligned toextend through terminal end 124 of first body segment 82 so as tocommunicate with central chamber 80.

As will be detailed, flange portions 128 of spring clip 78 are retainedin cut-outs 126 and are adapted to resiliently move from a radiallyretracted position to radially expanded position during installation ofcanister assembly 52 into mounting bore 56 so as to engage interiorsurface 62 of wall segment 58, thereby securing housing 74 of canisterassembly 52 to wall segment 58. As best seen from FIG. 8, a groove 130is formed in central chamber 80 of housing 74 within which a seal ring132 is retained to provide a sealed interface between housing 74 and endform 70 of male connector 54. In addition, an internal cavity 134extends through second body segment 84 and third body segment 86 ofhousing 74 and is sized to receive retainer 76 therein. Longitudinalgripping ridges 136 are formed in cavity 134 and function to resistrotational movement of retainer 76 relative to housing 74 followinginstallation of retainer 76 in cavity 134.

Retainer 76 is shown to include a cylindrical body segment 140 having anouter wall surface 142 adapted to be located in close proximity to aninner wall surface associated with internal cavity 134 in housing 74. Apair of tapered locking tabs 144 extend outwardly from wall surface 142of retainer body segment 140 and are adapted to be retained in asnap-lock manner within apertures 110 formed in second body segment 84of housing 74 so as to prevent unintended axial separation of retainer76 from housing 74. Retainer 76 also includes a circumferential wallsegment 146 which extends axially from body segment 140 and is locatedin close proximity to, and inboard of, arcuate wall segment 116 ofhousing 74. A cantilevered spring arm 148 extends from a central thickerwall segment 150 from which wall segment 146 also extends. Wall segments146 and 150 are radially offset relative to body segment 140 so as todefine a lower inner wall surface 152 that has a diameter which is lessthan the diameter of an upper inner wall surface 154. As best seen fromFIG. 5, lower wall surface 152 is sized to permit end form 70 of maleconnector 54 to pass therethrough and be generally coaxial with centralpassage 80 of housing 74. However, a radial retention rim 156 extendingfrom end form 70 is sized to cause spring arm 148 to resiliently deflectin a radially outward direction upon insertion of end form 70 intoretainer 76. Continued insertion of male connector 54 causes rim 156 onend form 70 to disengage spring arm 148 and to be located in an annularretention chamber 158 defined between body segment 140 and an undersidesegment of spring arm 148. Thereafter, spring arm 148 automaticallyreturns to its non-deflected condition so as to overlay rim 156, therebypreventing unintended axial extraction of end form 70 from retained 76.In this manner, male connector 54 is snap-locked to canister assembly52. Spring arm 148 has a lug 160 formed at its terminal end which islocated within slot 120. Lug 160 is retained in slot 122 by locking tab122 to prevent radial deflection of spring arm 148.

When it is desired to remove male connector 54 from canister assembly52, locking tab 160 is released from locking slot 120 to permit radialoutward deflection of spring arm 148 sufficient to permit retention rim156 to be withdrawn from chamber 158. This snap-lock feature onlypermits intentional release of male connector 54 from canister assembly52. This feature also permits installation of different types of maleconnectors 54 each having a similarly sized end form 72 into canisterassembly 52. In addition, retainer 76 can be removed from housing 74 bydeflecting tapered lock tabs 144 inwardly to release them from retentionin apertures 110.

Prior to installation of canister assembly 52 into mounting bore 56,spring clip 78 is slid into cut-outs 126 in housing 74 such that achamfered edge portion 160 of each flange 128 extends slightly pastouter wall surface 88 of first body segment 82. Upon installation ofcanister assembly 52 into bore 56, edge portions 160 of both flanges 128engage inner wall surface 90 of mounting bore 56 and are resilientlydeflected radially inwardly to permit first body segment 82 of housing74 to pass through mounting bore 56. Once terminal end 124 of housing 74extends beyond inner surface 62 of wall segment 58, and undersidesurface 96 of second body segment 84 is seated on shoulder surface 98 ofmounting bore 56, flanges 128 snap back to their non-deflected positionsuch that edge portions 160 overlay surface 62 of wall segment 58. Assuch, spring clip 78 functions to retain housing 74 in mounting bore 56.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 10 through 12, spring clip 78 is shownflanges 128 interconnected by a pair of leaf springs 170. Each flange128 includes a plate segment 172 to which opposite ends of leaf springs170 are attached. Each flange 128 also includes an upstanding lug 174that is formed centrally on each plate segment 172 and is retained in anupstanding portion of a corresponding cut-out 126. Similarly, endportions 160 extend from, and form part of, plate segments 172 and areretained in corresponding portions of apertures 126. Spring clip 78 alsoincludes a pair of retention lugs 176 which extend downwardly from aninner edge of plate segments 172. Retention lugs 176 are oriented toseat against wall surface 80 near terminal end 124 adjacent theirinterface with apertures 126 so as to prevent dislodgement of springclip 78 from housing 74 prior to installation of canister assembly 52into mounting bore 56. Thus, canister assembly 52 can be preassembledprior to installation into mounting bore 56.

Leaf springs 170 normally maintain plate segments 172 at a predefinedlateral offset relative to one another, thereby defining an expandedcondition for spring clip 78. However, engagement of edge portions 160of plate segments 172 with wall surface 90 of mounting bore 56 causesleaf springs 170 to deflect, thereby causing inward movement of flanges128 such that spring clip 78 is considered in a retracted condition.With spring clip 78 in its expanded condition, lugs 176 are biased intocontact with the shoulder surface defined between apertures 126 andinner surface 80 to retain spring clip 78 in housing 74. During assemblyof canister assembly 52 into mounting bore 56, leaf springs 170 deflectsuch that spring clip 78 moves from its extended condition to itsretracted condition. Once canister assembly 52 is completely installedin mounting bore 56, leaf springs 170 are free to expand such that,spring clip 78 automatically springs back to its extended condition,thereby causing end portions 160 to extend out of apertures 126 andextend past inner surface 80 to overlie interior surface 62 of wallsegment 58.

One of improvement provided by the present invention is the ability toadopt a standardized mounting bore size that accepts a common sizedcanister assembly. This method of pre-installing a canister-type femalesocket into a stepped bore to define a generally flush mount arrangementsignificantly reduces the cost and complexity of dies/molds andsecondary machining previously required to form integral male connectorsor connector bosses. Also, different retainers having a common outerdiameter and differing inner diameters can be snap-locked into a commonhousing to accommodate different sized male connector end forms. Thismodularity feature will permit a significant reduction in the number andtype of quick connector components required to interconnect differentlysized flow devices.

Those skilled in the art will under the significant advantages andbenefits afforded by the canister-type quick connector of the presentinvention. While a preferred application of the present invention isdirected to motor vehicle liquid (i.e., fuel, washer solvent, etc.) andgaseous (i.e., air, vapor, emissions, etc.) systems, it is to beunderstood that the canister-type mounting feature of the invention isintended to cover all suitable quick connector applications. However, itis contemplated that other types of quick connectors not shown butsubsequently acknowledged as equivalent in structure and function tothat shown and utilizing the mounting and retention system of thepresent invention are within the fair and reasonable scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector for connecting a hose to a wallstructure to define a flow path between the hose and a chamber definedby the wall structure, comprising: a housing mounted in a bore formedthrough the wall structure such that its first end extends into thechamber; a spring clip retained in apertures formed in said first end ofsaid housing, said spring clip having end portions extending outwardlyfrom said apertures that are adapted to prevent removal of said housingfrom the mounting bore; a retainer secured to a second end of saidhousing and defining a female receptacle in communication with thechamber; and a male connector having a first end secured to the hose anda second end adapted for retention in said female receptacle of saidretainer.
 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said spring clip furtherincludes at least one leaf spring interconnecting said end portions soas to permit resilient movement of said end portions between a retractedposition and an expanded position.
 3. The connector of claim 2, whereinsaid end portions are resiliently deflected from their expanded positionto their retracted position in response to installation of said firstend of said housing into the bore, and wherein said end portions of saidspring clip are permitted to return to their expanded position once saidend portions are located in the chamber.
 4. The connector of claim 2,wherein said spring clip further includes retention lugs engaging edgesurfaces of said apertures for preventing dislodgement of said springclip from said housing.
 5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the bore isformed in the wall structure between an exterior surface and an interiorsurface which communicates with the chamber, and wherein the bore isstepped to define a larger section which communicates with the exteriorsurface and a smaller section which communicates with the interiorsurface, and wherein said first end of said housing includes a firstbody segment adapted for retention in the smaller section of the steppedbore and said second end of said housing includes a second body segmentadapted for retention in the larger section of the stepped bore.
 6. Theconnector of claim 5, wherein said second body segment of said housingdefines a cavity within which said retainer is secured.
 7. The connectorof claim 6, wherein said retainer includes a projection that is adaptedto be retained in an aperture formed in said second body segment of saidhousing to secure said retainer to said housing.
 8. The connector ofclaim 5, wherein an anti-rotation slot is formed in the exterior surfaceof the wall structure and extends into the larger section of the steppedbore, and wherein said second body segment of said housing includes alocator lug that is retained in said anti-rotation slot to preventrotation of said housing relative to the wall structure.
 9. Theconnector of claim 5, wherein said retainer includes a cylindricalretainer body segment adapted for retention in said cavity formed insaid second body segment of said housing, said retainer further includesa wall segment extending from said retainer body segment, and an arcuatespring arm extending from said wall segment.
 10. The connector of claim9, wherein a retention rim formed on said second end of said maleconnector is adapted to cause said spring arm to deflect radiallyoutwardly upon insertion into said female receptacle until saidretention rim is located in an annular space defined between said springarm and said retainer body segment, and wherein once said retention rimis located in said annular space, said spring arm returns to itsnon-deflected position for retaining said rim in said annular space,thereby snap-locking said male connector to said retainer.
 11. Theconnector of claim 10 wherein the wall structure is a fuel tank for amotor vehicle.
 12. The connector of claim 10 wherein the wall structureis an engine manifold for a motor vehicle.
 13. A method for connecting ahose to a wall structure to define a flow path between the hose and aninternal chamber defined by the wall structure, comprising the steps of:providing a canister assembly including a housing having a first end anda second end, a spring clip having end flanges extending out ofapertures formed in said first end of said housing, and a retainersecured to said second end of said housing and defining a femalereceptacle; forming a mounting bore through said wall structure betweenan exterior wall surface and an interior wall surface which communicateswith said internal chamber; inserting said canister assembly into saidmounting bore such that said end flanges of said spring clip engage saidmounting bore and are resiliently deflected from their normal expandedposition to a retracted position within said apertures; expanding saidend flanges of said spring clip from their retracted position to theirexpanded position when said first end of said housing is located withinsaid internal chamber such that said end flanges project over saidinterior wall surface of said wall segment; providing a connectorcomponent having a first end connected to said hose and a second enddefining a male connector; inserting said male connector into saidfemale receptacle of said retainer; and securing said male connector insaid female receptacle.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said springclip includes a leaf spring interconnecting said end flanges and whichpermits movement thereof between their expanded and retracted positions.15. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of forming a mounting borefurther includes forming a stepped mounting bore having a smaller boresegment in communication with said interior wall surface and a largerbore segment between said smaller bore segment and said external wallsurface, said smaller bore segment sized to engage and resilientlydeflect said end flanges of said spring clip from their expandedposition to their retracted position upon insertion of said first end ofsaid housing into said smaller bore segment.
 16. The method of claim 15wherein said first end of said housing includes a first cylindrical bodysegment sized for retention in said smaller bore segment of saidmounting bore, and said second end of said housing includes a secondcylindrical body segment sized for retention in said larger bore segmentof said segment mounting bore.
 17. The method of claim 16 furtherincluding the steps of providing a cavity in said second body segment ofsaid housing sized to accept a body segment of said retainer therein,and providing a snap-locking connection between said second body segmentof said housing and said body segment of said retainer.
 18. The methodof claim 13 wherein said step of securing said male connector withinsaid female receptacle of said retainer includes providing a snap-lockcoupling therebetween.
 19. The method of claim 13 wherein said wallstructure is a fuel tank for a motor vehicle.
 20. The method of claim 13wherein said wall structure is an engine manifold for a motor vehicle.21. A connector for connecting a hose to a wall structure to define aflow path between the hose and an interior chamber defined by the wallstructure, comprising: a housing having a central flow passage and firstand second ends, said housing is adapted to be mounted in a bore formedthrough the wall structure such that its first end extends into theinterior chamber; a spring clip retained in apertures formed in saidfirst end of said housing, said spring clip having end flanges extendingoutwardly from said apertures that are adapted to prevent removal ofsaid housing from the bore; and a male connector having a first endsecured to the hose and a second end adapted for retention in a femalereceptacle associated with said second end of said housing.
 22. Theconnector of claim 21, wherein said spring clip further includes a pairof leaf springs interconnecting said end flanges so as to permitresilient movement of said end flanges between a retracted position andan expanded position.
 23. The connector of claim 22, wherein said endflanges are resiliently deflected from their expanded position to theirretracted position in response to installation of said first end of saidhousing into the bore, and wherein said end flanges of said spring clipare permitted to return to their expanded position once said end flangesare located within the interior chamber.
 24. The connector of claim 22,wherein said spring clip further includes retention lugs for engagingedge surfaces of said apertures for preventing dislodgement of saidspring clip from said housing.
 25. The connector of claim 21, whereinthe bore is formed in the wall structure between an exterior surface andan interior surface which communicates with the interior chamber,wherein the bore is stepped to define a larger section in communicationwith the exterior surface and a smaller section in communication withthe interior surface, and wherein said first end of said housingincludes a first body segment adapted for retention in the smallersection of the stepped bore and said second end of said housing includesa second body segment adapted for retention in the larger section of thestepped bore.
 26. The connector of claim 25, wherein said second bodysegment of said housing defines a cavity within which a retainer issecured, said retainer defining said female receptacle.
 27. Theconnector of claim 26, wherein said retainer includes a projection thatis adapted to be retained in an aperture formed in said second bodysegment of said housing to secure said retainer to said housing.
 28. Theconnector of claim 26, wherein said retainer includes a cylindricalretainer body segment adapted for retention in said cavity formed insaid second body segment of said housing, a wall segment extending fromsaid retainer body segment, and an acurate spring arm extending fromsaid wall segment.
 29. The connector of claim 28, wherein a rim formedin said second end of said male connector is adapted to cause saidspring arm to radially outwardly deflect upon insertion into said femalereceptacle until said rim is located in an annular space between saidspring arm and said retainer body segment, and wherein said spring armis thereafter released and returns to its non-deflected position forretaining said rim in said annular space, thereby snap-locking said maleconnector to said retainer.